316 Best Sights in Turkey

The goal of the Allies was to occupy this strategic location overlooking the Gallipoli Peninsula. They failed, and Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) became a hero and went on to establish the secular republic of Turkey. It was here that he told his soldiers, "I order you not just to fight, but to die." All the men of one of his regiments were wiped out, and he himself was saved miraculously when a bullet hit the pocket watch that was over his heart—a moment commemorated with a huge statue of Atatürk here—but the line held. The hilltop holds Turkish trenches, a cemetery, and the New Zealand national memorial and has good views of the peninsula and the Dardanelles Strait.

The main reason to come here is for the sweeping view of the mouth of the Dardanelles and the Aegean, but the long history and exhibits come a close second. Built on the orders of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1462 after he successfully stormed Istanbul, the impressive waterfront fortress now houses the Deniz Müzesi (Naval Museum), displaying artifacts from the Gallipoli battlefields and exhibits in English (proceed counterclockwise inside), accompanied by a Turkish-language, live-action reenactment of life in the trenches. The grounds contain all kinds of weaponry, including dozens of ancient and modern cannons, and a replica of the World War I–era minelayer ship, Nusret, is docked offshore.

Trabzon's Byzantine-era citadel was built on part of a hill formed by two ravines, and while not much is left of the building's former glory, the soaring outside walls and massive columns are still impressive (restored after the Ottoman conquest in 1461) and a testament to the fact that no army ever took Trabzon by force, though many tried. The only remaining part of the interior is the 10th-century church of Panagia Chrysokephalos (the Virgin of the Golden Head), which was the city's cathedral and where many of its rulers were married, crowned, and buried. The Ottomans converted it into a mosque, the Ortahisar Camii, in the 15th century.

The northern exit of the Zincirli Bedestan brings you out beside the 19th-century Alaüddevle Mosque, with its large dome. From here Hamdi Kutlar Caddesi leads past more coppersmiths, several restored 19th-century kervansarays, and the small but interesting Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum (1 TL). The street eventually arrives at the prominent kale (castle), built over the layers of the pre-Roman city by the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century and remodeled by the Seljuk Turks in the 12th and 13th centuries. It's a steep walk to the top, but the view over the bazaar district is fantastic (if it ever finally reopens—as of this writing, it was closed for renovations). For now, it's possible to visit the Defense Panorama Museum housed in the approach tunnel, which portrays the city defending itself from French and Armenian attackers in 1920. If you need some relaxation after the excursion, on the far side of the castle you'll find the recently restored Naib Hamam, dating from 1640 (23 TL). It's open to women from 9 to 5, and to men from 6 pm to midnight.

In Turkey's first parliament building, which now houses the Museum of the Republic, politicians debated principles and policies that would shape the Turkish Republic as a modern secular nation. The great hall where parliament convened from 1924 to 1960 is decorated in Seljuk and Ottoman styles, with an ornately inlaid wooden ceiling, enormous crystal chandelier, and a loggia-like gallery from which dignitaries addressed the assembly. The museum includes a small exhibit on the early years of the Republic. Although signs are only in Turkish, a free—and very informative—English audio guide is available.

Just off the yacht harbor is this small and eccentric collection of sea creatures (mostly local) preserved in tanks under spooky blue lights in what's set up to look like the interior of an old wooden ship. With its Damien Hirst-esque sharks, fish, squid, and even a sea turtle floating in formaldehyde, it's part charming-local-natural-history-museum and part aquarium-of-the-damned.

Founded in 1897 and located here since 1961, Istanbul's Naval Museum reopened in late 2013 with a new, state-of-the-art wing that impressively showcases its large collection of Ottoman-era boats and maritime paraphernalia. The multistory, hangar-like structure was built to house more than a dozen kayıks (caiques)—long, slim wooden boats rowed by oarsmen, that served as the primary mode of royal transportation in Istanbul for several hundred years. These graceful vessels are decorated with gorgeous painted patterns and intricate carvings and figureheads covered with gold leaf; most also have an equally ornate curtained wooden pavilion that was built for the sultan, his wife, or his mother. The underground level houses several exhibits of paintings, naval coats of arms, and other objects that give a good sense of the Ottoman Empire's onetime supremacy at sea. In the square just beside the museum are the tomb (usually locked) and a statue of Hayreddin Pasha, or "Barbarossa," the famous admiral of the empire's fleet in the Ottoman glory days of the early 16th century.

Meaning "deep well," Derinkuyu is the deepest of the known underground cities that have been explored. Eight floors are open to the public, though there may be many more. The subterranean labyrinth has stables, wineries, a chapel and baptismal pool, a school, scores of other interconnected rooms, and as many as 600 entrances and air ducts. You'll also see a ventilation shaft that plunges 180 feet from ground level. Claustrophobes, take note: spaces here are so tight that you'll have to walk doubled over for about 330 feet up and down steps in a sloping cave corridor.

Didyma's Temple of Apollo is as grand in scale as the Parthenon—measuring 623 feet by 167 feet—and has 124 well-preserved columns, some still supporting their architraves. Started in 300 BC and under construction for nearly five centuries, the temple was never completed, and some of the columns remain unfluted. The oracle here rivaled the one at Delphi, and beneath the courtyard is a network of underground corridors used by temple priests for their oracular consultations. The corridor walls would throw the oracle's voice into deep and ghostly echoes, which the priests would interpret. The tradition of seeking advice from a sacred oracle here probably started long before the arrival of the Greeks, who in all likelihood converted an older Anatolian cult based at the site into their own religion. The Greek oracle had a good track record, and at the birth of Alexander the Great (356 BC) predicted that he would be victorious over the Persians, that his general Seleucus would later become king, and that Trajan would become an emperor. Around AD 385, the popularity of the oracle dwindled with the rise of Christianity. The temple was later excavated by French and German archaeologists, and its statues are long gone, hauled back to England by Sir Charles Newton in 1858. Fragments of bas-reliefs on display by the entrance to the site include a gigantic head of Medusa (twin of the one in Istanbul's underground cistern, across from Hagia Sophia) and a small statue of Poseidon and his wife, Amphitrite. You can rent a combined Miletus and Didyma audio guide for 20 TL.

Of the three beaches in Dikili awarded blue flags for their water quality, environmental management, safety, and services, the public beach is the most popular and accessible. Starting just north of the port, almost 6 km (4 miles) of dark golden sand stretch along the water. The beach is well stocked with umbrellas, sunbeds, and people selling refreshments. Lifeguards keep watch most of the day, but not always. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

The old town's most recognizable monument is the Dört Ayaklı Minare (Four-Footed Minaret) of the Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque. The minaret balances on four basalt columns, a marvel of medieval engineering. Legend has it that your wish will come true if you circle the minaret seven times.

Upon being kicked out of Aya Sofya after the Turkish conquest of the city, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate wandered among several churches before settling here in the Church of St. George in 1601. Rebuilt after a fire in 1720, the church is a relatively simple basilica, though the (rather dark) interior has a refined atmosphere. Sarcophagi with the remains of some famous Byzantine saints, a Byzantine-era patriarchal throne, and two very old mosaic icons on the right side of the elaborate iconostasis are considered the most noteworthy features of the church. The main front gate of the compound has been welded shut ever since Sultan Mahmud II had Patriarch Gregory V hanged from it in 1821 as punishment for the Greek revolt. This small church is theoretically the center of the Orthodox world, though some Turks would like to claim that it serves only the dwindling community of Istanbul Greeks.

North of Arykanda, the mountain town of Elmalı is the center of the country's apple (elma) industry. Although a glimpse of traditional Turkey and the cool mountain air are the main draws, Elmalı is also known for its traditional, half-timber houses and the Ömer Pasha mosque (1602), which is one of the best Ottoman mosques in southern Turkey. Several important pre-classical sites have been excavated in the area, and a hoard of nearly 2,000 coins from the 5th century BC, called the "Treasure of the Century" was unearthed near here. Most finds are now in the Antalya Museum, but a small, free museum, Elmalı Müzesi ( Eski Hükümet Cad.), opened here in 2011. Local wines from the Likya Şarapları vineyards can be tasted at its winery on the edge of town (open weekdays only). 

The transportation hub of Old Istanbul, Eminönü teems with activity. There are docks for traditional ferryboats (including those making both short and daylong Bosphorus cruises) and faster "sea bus" catamarans that cross the Bosphorus, as well as the Eminönü tram stop, the Sirkeci train station, and the departure area for buses headed to Istanbul's western districts. Thousands of people and vehicles rush through this frenetic neighborhood by the hour, and the many street traders here sell everything from trinkets to designer knockoffs. From Eminönü, you can cross the Galata Bridge on foot or via the tramway to Karaköy, the gateway to the "new town."

The daughter of Sultan Yıldırım Beyazıt built the Emir Sultan Camii in 1429 for her husband, Emir Sultan, and it sits amid cypresses and plane trees on a quiet hilltop overlooking the city. The single-domed mosque was badly damaged in the 1855 earthquake and almost totally rebuilt by Sultan Abdülaziz. The two cut-stone minarets are considered great examples of rococo, and the assemblage faces an attractive courtyard that houses the tombs of Emir Sultan, his wife, and their children.

This quiet European-side suburb is best known for its large, attractive, public park, Emirgan Korusu—formerly an estate owned by the Khedive of Egypt—which has flower gardens, a small pond, paths, and picnic areas. Three restored, 19th-century, wooden pavilions house restaurants and cafés. During Istanbul's Tulip Festival in April, visitors flock to Emirgan Korusu for its striking flower displays—each year, a million or more tulips in dozens of varieties are planted in this park alone. The flower, which takes its name from the Turkish word tülbend (turban), was most likely introduced to Europe in the late 16th century via the Ottoman Empire, setting off the famous "tulip craze" in the Netherlands. Emirgan is also where the Sakıp Sabancı Museum is located.

Just below the citadel, on the way into town, is the Er Rizk Mosque, which dates back to the 14th century and has a beautiful minaret (topped by a stork's nest) that has intricate stone carvings on its exterior.

Some say the 11th-century Eski Gümüşler church inside this monastery complex has the only image of a smiling Virgin Mary in the world. Others say that this is due to an error made during the church's restoration. Whatever the case, the frescoes inside, though dark, are beautiful and amazingly preserved. When facing the alter of the church's main nave (the room on the right-hand side), look for the "smiling" Virgin in a rock niche on the left-hand side. Parts of the monastery were carved as early as the 7th century, but most of the frescoes are from around the 11th. They were later painted over by local Turkish Muslims, who considered the depiction of human beings idolatrous.

The monastery also contains a kitchen, rock-carved monks' chambers around the central courtyard, and two levels of underground rooms that may have been used in part as a water reservoir. The sign for the monastery is one of the first things you see as you approach Niğde; it's about 4 km (2½ miles) down the road from there.

This delightfully hokey museum, across the street from the Archaeology Museum, focuses on folk art and daily life. The collection includes everything from a reconstructed Ottoman bridal chamber (the mannequin groom looks like he's had second thoughts) to camel-wrestling gear, 19th-century embroidery, and a reconstruction of an old İzmir pharmacy.

Atatürk used this Ottoman Revival–style building as an office, and his body lay here for 15 years after his death while his enormous mausoleum was being built. This small museum mainly appeals to those interested in cultural artifacts. It houses a rich collection of Turkish carpets, folk costumes, weapons, Islamic calligraphy, and ceramics. The display of woodwork, which includes intricately carved doors, portals, minbars (mosque pulpits), and Seljuk thrones—some pieces dating as far back as the 13th century—is especially impressive.

Muslim pilgrims from all over the world make their way to the brightly colored, tile-covered tomb of Eyüp Ensari (Ayyub al-Ansari)—a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who served as his standard-bearer—at this mosque complex on the Golden Horn. Ensari was killed during the first Arab siege of Constantinople (AD 674–78), and the eternal presence of a man so close to Muhammad makes this the holiest Islamic shrine in Turkey. His grave site was visited by Muslim pilgrims in Byzantine times and "rediscovered" during Mehmet the Conqueror's siege of Constantinople. After the conquest, Mehmet monumentalized the tomb and built a mosque, where investiture ceremonies were held for successive sultans. The mosque currently on the site was built after the original edifice was ruined in the 1766 earthquake. The plane-tree-shaded courtyards and large numbers of visitors imbue Eyüp Sultan Camii with a sense of peace and religious devotion not found in many other parts of this often frenetic city. A vast cemetery has grown up around the mosque. It's best to avoid visiting at prayer times.

This complex consisting of a mosque, religious schools, and other buildings of a pious nature was the largest in the Ottoman empire, and is still one of the most culturally important mosques in the city. Today it remains the heart of Fatih, one of Istanbul's most religiously conservative neighborhoods. The original mosque, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1766, was built from 1463 to 1470 by Mehmet the Conqueror on the site of the demolished Church of the Twelve Apostles, the burial church of Byzantine emperors from Constantine on. The 18th-century replacement, which has been completely restored, is quite attractive—particularly the extensive stained-glass windows—though probably very little of what you're seeing is original. Behind the mosque is the reconstructed, baroque-style tomb of the Conqueror himself, along with the far plainer tomb of his wife Gülbahar. It's best to avoid visiting the mosque at prayer times.

Along the crest of the hill overlooking the old town are the remains of the battlements of a castle; the foundations, which date back to antiquity, were later built up by the 12th-century crusaders, Knights of St. John (also known as the Knights Hospitaller), who also built the castle in Bodrum. It takes a good imagination to picture what a mighty fortress this must once have been, but the views of the Fethiye Bay are lovely from here—and from the Seyir Terası (observation terrace) just down the road. A series of picnic tables on wooden decks is perched on the hillside.

Although small and somewhat neglected, Fethiye's museum has a fascinating collection of artifacts from nearby sites, including sculptures from Tlos and Kaunos (near Dalyan) and stone sarcophagi. You'll also see the Letoon trilingual stela (a stone slab with Greek, Lycian, and Aramaic inscriptions), a mosaic from the Temple of Apollo, and a series of altars and stelae dedicated to the gods in thanks. Other items include an intricately carved wooden door from the Lower Church at Kayaköy and a 19th-century Greek ship's figurehead.

The Galata area was a thriving Italian settlement both before and after the fall of Constantinople, and the Genoese rebuilt this tower as part of their fortifications in 1348 (the original structure dates back to the Byzantium Emperor Justinian in 527 AD), when they controlled the northern shore of the Golden Horn. The hillside location provided good defense, as well as a perch from which to monitor the comings and goings of vessels in the sea lanes below. The 220-foot tower later served at times as a jail and at other times as a fire tower and now houses a restaurant at the top. The viewing gallery, which offers fabulous panoramas of the city and across the Golden Horn and Sea of Marmara, is accessible by elevator and open during the day for a rather steep fee—it bears noting that similar views can be had at rooftop cafés and restaurants around the area.

Istanbul's oldest Mevlevi dervish lodge, which served as a meeting place and residence for whirling dervishes (followers of the Sufi mystic Celaleddin Rumi), was founded on this site in 1491 and rebuilt after a fire in 1765. Recently restored, it now houses a small but interesting museum with displays of dervish garments, handicrafts, and other artifacts, along with background information about the Mevlevi order and Sufism more generally. On the upstairs floor of the lodge's semahane (ceremonial hall) are additional exhibits of calligraphy, ebru (traditional marbling art), and musical instruments. The serene, leafy grounds contain a handful of tombs and a small cemetery. The biggest draws, however, are the sema ceremonies (popularly known as whirling dervish ceremonies) that are performed by different Sufi groups at 5 pm each Sunday in the semahane. Tickets are sold in front of the museum on ceremony days only; it's best to buy them early in the day because performances can sell out.

The pleasant, well-tended Gençlik Parkı ("Youth Park"), though not large enough to make you forget you're in the middle of the city, is a nice place for a stroll. Plantings are manicured, and a small, man-made lake is surrounded by a partly trellised, partly tree-lined walkway. Ankara's main tourist information office is also in the park.

The park is a shady oasis on hot days or summer evenings, and is home to the famed carp pools. According to legend, King Nimrod, angry at Abraham's condemnation of the king's Assyrian polytheism, set about immolating the patriarch. God awakened natural springs, dousing the fire and saving Abraham. The carp, according to the myth, are an incarnation of the wood from Abraham's pyre. While historically the story might not, well, hold water—they are probably part of a pre-Christian fish shrine—the gorgeous springs remain. The place has a serene and distinctly spiritual feel to it, with groups of visiting pilgrims and families from Turkey and neighboring countries strolling about and feeding what are probably the most pampered fish in the world. Look for the Byzantine era bell tower beside the lake.

For a cool, memorable day hike, pack a picnic and trek up the Göynük gorge. Drive north of Phaselis to the corner of the coast where the town of Göynük ends and Beldibi begins, a point clearly marked by blue "city limits" signs at the bridge over a riverbed. Turn inland onto the unmarked tarmac and dirt track on the northern bank of the river, and follow sporadic signs to the "wasserfall" into the gorge. When you no longer feel comfortable with the rockiness of the track, park by the side of the road and walk on up. Having a guide with you is handy but not essential—red-painted signs from a local café will keep you on the right path. Take note: when the driveable road definitively ends, take the path up the left-hand gorge—not the steeper right-hand one—follow the main river, cross to the far banks, then back again about five minutes later to a forest track carved into the side of the mountain.

Nearly an hour from the last car park, the road turns into a path, and drops down to the river. You can take a refreshing swim where the cold, clear river flows through a long, deep crevasse carved by the water through the rock. Follow the rope and walk the first section of the canyon, with chilly waist-deep water. With good waterproof shoes you can continue up some small waterfalls and rocky ledges as far as you feel safe—just observe the usual precautions like not canyoning after recent rain. A variety of organized activities is also available in the canyon, including jeep tours, rafting excursions, and zip-lining.

The walls of Constantinople were the greatest fortifications of the medieval age and, although they were severely damaged by Sultan Mehmet II's canon in the siege leading up to the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453, large sections still stand more or less intact. The walls were built in the 5th century after the city outgrew the walls built by Constantine, and they stretched 6½ km (4 miles) from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. The "wall" was actually made up of a large inner and smaller outer wall, with various towers and gates, as well as a moat. Parts have been restored, and you can even climb around on top; the easiest section on which to do this is near Edirnekapı, a short walk uphill from Chora.